EUROPEAN Integration of the Western Balkans. Can the Visegrad Group Countries serve as Role Models?
EUROPEAN Integration of the Western Balkans. Can the Visegrad Group Countries serve as Role Models?

Author(s): Jelica Minić
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Politics, EU-Approach / EU-Accession / EU-Development
Published by: Evropski Pokret u Srbiji
Summary/Abstract: In Serbia, the pre-accession situation is considerably particular. The association and accession negotiations with the EU and cooperation with NATO developed in the postconflict environment, with many unsolved issues with neighbours. The political will to cooperate regionally with other Western Balkan countries appeared only after certain structures, developed under the pressure of the EU, proved to be beneficial for all (i.e. Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe, CEFTA 2006, Energy Community Treaty, Transport Observatory for SEE and others). Other, parallel line of building mutual confidence in the region was through the South East Europe Cooperation Process (and Regional Cooperation Council as its operational arm), launched in the wider Balkan context in the year 1996. The growing political willingness to cooperate regionally manifested itself in dozens of new regional structures and initiatives emerging since the second half of the previous decade. This provides an appropriate ground for opening a permanent dialogue of the Western Balkan countries with the V4.

• Details
• Contents